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Teens can accomplish more with their phones in an hour than most people can accomplish in a week. However, while technology moves us forward, basic life skills are slowly fading into the background. Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, along with other social media tools, make it so easy for teens to interact with people from the comfort of their homes that in-person job interviews or public speaking tasks seem daunting. And with banking apps to help manage our finances, it’s easy to see why many young people don’t know how to write a check or balance a checkbook. Still, basic life skills, which include managing a bank account, writing a resume, or understanding how a paycheck works, are as important today as they were 20 years ago.

Help Teaching offers worksheets on the following topics to help teenagers understand, learn, and remember the basic life skills they need before entering adulthood:

Must-Have Lifeskills for Teens for Optimal Mental and Social Development

#1. Driving and Safety

Knowing driving laws plays a big role when it comes to driving safely. Being a defensive driver – doing everything to avoid an accident – is also essential when on the roads. Once teens get a driver’s license, it is imperative that they stay within legal speed limits, obey the rules of the road, and keep their seat belts on at all times. The Driving and Safety worksheet is a great reminder that driving correctly isn’t only important for the driver and his passengers, but for all of the motorists on the road.

#2.  Managing bank accounts

It’s not difficult to open a bank account, but it isn’t always easy to maintain one.  Our Understanding Checks and Bank Accounts worksheet covers what teens need to know in order to manage their money in high school and beyond. It touches on understanding the difference between a checking and savings account, discovering how interest works, learning how to withdraw and deposit money, and keeping a checkbook up to date.  Teens may not realize that balancing a checkbook isn’t always easy — it takes discipline and time.

#3. Filling Out a Check

While teenagers have seen parents or other adults write checks, many do not know how to write one out on their own. It’s important for teenagers with checking accounts to know how the process works.  The Understanding Checks and Bank Accounts worksheet refers to important details, such as filling out a check, where to find the routing, account, and check numbers, and where to sign a check.

#4. Writing Resumes and Cover Letters

A resume is a summary of work experience, skills, and education, and can be utilized even if an applicant doesn’t have much of a work history. Help Teaching’s Resumes and Cover Letters worksheet addresses what type of content is needed to make a good impression on a potential employer. Items such as professional quality, easy to read content, and error-free grammar and spelling are a must. It also touches on the need for cover letters to be tailored to each job application, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

#5. Searching for a job

Finding the right job takes time, knowledge of labor laws, and some detective work. This process can be frustrating for anyone, but our worksheet The Job Search provides tips and guidance on how to proceed. Items such as networking, when to apply, what jobs to apply for, and age limits are covered.

#6. Job Applications

Job applications are generally used for all places of employment. Deciding what information to have on hand, or knowing what should be filled out on the application can be daunting to someone just starting the job search.  The Filling Out a Job Application worksheet touches on what is important when applying for a job. Employers need easy to remember items such as name, address, and phone numbers, but can also require information not known offhand, like a social security number, emergency contacts, or former supervisors’ information. The worksheet also discusses what to do if there is no work history to include on an application, such as preparing a list of skills that can go a long way to impress a hiring manager.

#7. Job Interviews

Once the application has been received, a personal interview is the next step. Help Teaching’s Life Skills worksheet The Job Interview recognizes how intimidating it can be to meet with a potential employer. It can be difficult think quickly when nervous, or to answer questions on the spot, so it is wise to be prepared before going in the interview room. First impressions are key and things like being on time, what kind of clothing is worn, and overall demeanor can be the defining factors in getting the job or being passed over.  Knowing what skills are outstanding, what skills need improved, and having questions ready for the hiring manager will make a positive impression.

#8. Understanding your paychecks and taxes

Once a job is obtained, our website’s worksheet Paychecks and Taxes can help guide employees through the ins and outs of deductions and taxes. For teenagers and young adults, often the number on that eagerly awaited first paycheck is not nearly as high as had hoped.  This worksheet discusses 401 K, the difference between net and gross pay, overtime, and benefits on a paycheck. It also introduces topics such as tax forms, dependents, Social Security, and Medicare.

#9. Credit Card Management

When that paycheck begins to come regularly, a credit card may be desired. Without out the right knowledge, it’s easy to fall into credit card debt. Anyone under the age of 21 must have a co-signer to obtain a credit card, unless they can prove they have a five-figure income. Our worksheet Understanding Credit Cards discusses how credit cards work and how to manage them. It refers to credit scores, credit history, and payments, along with APR and interest fees.

The amount of knowledge teens and young adults have with basic life skills is often taken for granted.  As a result, many go out into the real world not knowing how to write a check, use a credit card wisely, or even remember basic driving skills. Teachers can use the Life Skills worksheets in any high school or higher grade level. Some worksheets such as Understanding Checks Bank Accounts can be used for early high school, and even middle school. Find more life skills worksheets at HelpTeaching.com.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to learn more with KidsKonnect and their article for teaching lifeskills to homeschoolers.

“I’m never going to use this!” Chances are, if you teach math, you’ve had a student say something along these lines. Yet, math is a vital part of our daily lives. From checking the temperature or deciding what to wear, to knowing if you have enough money to purchase an item or figuring out how long it will take to get somewhere, math is a part of everyday life. Here are nine ways to make math relevant for your students and inspire them to embrace math in the real-world.

1. Follow Current Events

Connect math to social studies by following current events in the news. Students may be surprised by how frequently numbers are cited in news stories. Start by identifying a grade appropriate print, online, or video news sources like PBS NewsHour Extra. Then, have students keep a journal of articles that cite numbers and analyze how the data is presented as part of the news story.

2. Partake in a Math Competition

Quality math competitions will challenge students to apply their knowledge in ingenious ways. Encourage creative problem-solving and build teamwork skills by enrolling students in a competition like Odyssey of the Mind.

3. Teach Personal Finance

If there is one math skill every person should master, it is money management. Although students typically learn how to add and subtract money, learning how to budget, invest, and manage debt are essential when it comes to ensuring a secure financial future. Get started with these ideas on teaching personal finance.

4. Play Games

Games are a fun way of incorporating math learning into the classroom while engaging students in play. Many classic board games help develop counting skills, number recognition, and fact fluency through the use of dice, spinners, and cards. Online math games are a high-interest activity for today’s tech-savvy students and many also support math standards and curricula.

5. Plan a Road Trip

Planning a road trip can help students hone their math skills while also studying geography. Divide students into groups, provide a budget, and have them research, design, and present a print or digital travel brochure of their road trip. Require that each group provides a breakdown of costs, including miles per gallon for fuel, meals, lodging, and admission fees to attractions.

6. Get Cooking

Many kids love to cook. Apply math to daily life by having students practice their culinary math skills. Not only does cooking allow students to practice skills like conversions, fractions, and proportions, but they also get a tasty meal or snack at the end!

7. Root for the Home Team

Whether you have students who participate in sports, play sports video games, or simply love to watch a good game, statistics play a key role in athletics. Challenge students to watch or participate in a sport, then record and graph data about the game. Alternatively, look for sporting events that provide educational materials like these Iditarod math teaching resources.

8. Study the Mathematics of Music

From patterns to frequency, music is mathematical. Elementary students can connect the arts and math by listening to music and identifying patterns. High school students can dig deeper into the mathematical structure of music by studying harmonics or looking at new ways of seeing music.

9. Celebrate Math Holidays

Math holidays and theme days are a great hook for inspiring students to learn math. Join Global Math Week in October, connect math and literacy on Math Storytelling Day in September, or celebrate any of the multitude of math holidays throughout the year.

How do you make math relevant for students in your classroom? Share your ideas in the comments. For more math teaching resources, try Help Teaching’s free math worksheets and math lessons.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children today spend an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones, and other electronic devices.  Five years ago, the nation’s leading organization of pediatricians released a policy outlining how often and what type of media children and teens should consume.  That policy has been updated and new guidelines are available here.  Here is a summary:

• Under 18 months: no screen time
• 18-24 months: one hour/day with parental interaction
• 2-5 years: one hour/day
• 6 and up: limits on use that prioritize physical activity and education
• Families should develop a family media plan

However, the guidelines don’t stop there. Instead of using their screen time to watch idle television programs and play silly digital games, children and teens should spend their time engaging with quality programming.  What constitutes quality programming, and where can you find quality programming for your children and teens?  We’ve broken it down by age and have provided some suggestions of quality resources you can feel comfortable allowing your children to interact with.

18-24 months

At this age face-to-face interaction with adults is still one of the most crucial components of a child’s development. Therefore, apps such as FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom don’t necessarily count against a child’s daily screen time allowance.  When choosing apps, online videos, or television shows to fill the child’s daily screen time allowance, parents should consider:

• Is the content educational?
• Does the content allow for interaction?
• At what speed does the content move?

The educational component of an app or video is important, but the way it is presented is equally important. In a now infamous study, researchers discovered that shows like Caillou moved at a speed better for young kids’ brains than shows like SpongeBob SquarePants. Content that moves at a fast speed, features bright flashing colors, or loud background music is not ideal for children in this age group.

Some resources to check out for this age group include:

Television and Video

BabyFirst TV offers slow-moving, educational shows for children, including series such as Hide and Seek and Harry the Bunny, which help children build developmental skills.

Mother Goose Club on YouTube also presents nursery rhymes for kids. It features kids in animal costumes, simple animations, and motions for kids to follow.

Baby Animals in the Wild on Netflix may seem above the level of kids this age, but they’ll love the relaxing feel, simple descriptions, and slow-moving video.

Blue’s Clues moves at a pace appropriate for very young children. It also features characters who talk directly to children and gives them plenty of opportunity to interact.

Apps

The Learn and Play App from Fisher-Price feature simple designs and colors designed to appeal to younger kids. In most instances, all kids have to do is tap to get a reaction or move on to the next screen.

Mochu POP is a language immersion app for babies and toddlers. Kids are instructed to pop balloons with a particular shape or color. As they do, they’re rewarded with positive reinforcement. Every time they tap the bubbles, they’re also introduced to new letter sounds.

Metamorphabet takes kids through the alphabet by morphing the letters into fun shapes. Kids begin to build letter recognition and vocabulary skills.

2-5 years

When it comes to kids in this age range, you want to choose content that’s designed to enhance their knowledge, not just entertain them. So while shows like Paw Patrol and The Lion Guard may be entertaining, they may not be the best use of kids’ media time. At this age, parents should also focus on interacting with children as they interact with media. Talk to kids about what the characters are doing on a show, what they’re drawing on an app, or what’s going on in a particular game.

Some resources to check out for this age group include:

Television and Video

WordWorld builds kids’ vocabulary skills in a unique way – by transforming words into shapes and placing them into fun stories and animations. Find their videos on PBS and in the App Store.

Team Umizoomi teaches kids early math skills, such as measurement and shape recognition, through its fun animated series. The math isn’t just thrown into the show either; it’s often a part of help the characters solve their problem.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a series for kids that was developed based on characters from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. The series is designed to help kids learn to recognize their emotions and express themselves in healthy ways.

Mighty Machines features narrated videos of real-life trucks and other construction vehicles. Kids who love trucks will be mesmerized and learn something at the same time.

KidsTV123 is a YouTube channel full of simple learning videos for young kids. All of the songs are set to tunes that are easy for kids to remember.

The Learning Station provides “healthy music for a child’s heart, body, and mind.” The company, which also sells its songs, offers a YouTube page full of fun and educational songs. Many of the songs feature movements that kids can perform as they watch.

Apps

Tally Tots Counting helps kids learn to count through a series of mini games presented in a relaxing, colorful environment.

Endless Alphabet and it’s companion, Endless Reader, help kids learn to read and build their vocabulary skills through a series of animated words and videos.

Thinkrolls is a unique app that helps kids build logical thinking skills as they roll their characters through a series of mazes full of STEM-related challenges.

Montessori: 1st Operations introduces kids to addition, subtraction, and other mathematical concepts through a series of practice activities designed to let them explore the numbers in their own way.

Shiny Things apps help kids develop number sense and learn about following directions through fun activities, such as running a bakery or putting on a circus.

6-9 years

At this age, parents should begin to put limits in place to guide how much screen time children should get and what they can and can’t do during their screen time. Parents should still focus on making the screen time educational and/or interactive. For example, a video game like Just Dance might not be educational, but it gets kids up and moving.

Some resources to check out for this age group include:

Television and Video

The Magic School Bus brings the popular children’s book series to life, teaching kids all about different scientific concepts through its animated episodes.  It’s available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Cyberchase invites kids to become detectives and solve math-based mysteries. As they do, they’ll learn that math is all around them.

Odd Squad is an educational detective comedy show that’s sure to engage kids. The main characters use math to help them solve problems, with a bit of hilarity and parody thrown in.

Master Chef Jr. encourages kids to get into the kitchen by watching and learning from talented kid chefs. Chopped Junior is another good show for kids who are interested in cooking.

The Spangler Effect is designed to make science fun and engaging to kids and adults. Steve Spangler creates videos of amazing science experiments many kids can do at home. Others are best left to the experts.

Apps

Crazy Gears challenges kids with a series of puzzles designed to teach them how gears work. Even adults may be stumped as they try to figure out where to place all of the pieces to complete the puzzle. This app builds logical thinking skills.

Toontastic allows kids to create their own animated cartoons. With this app, kids can write silly stories, create funny cartoons, or even put factual information into a format that’s more fun to read.

Stack the States provides kids with a fun way to learn all about the 50 states. As they play, they’ll learn state capitals, abbreviations, and other important facts.

Inventioneers allows kids to create their own crazy adventures. As they do, they learn about engineering and physics.

Math Bingo is more than just your basic bingo game. This app combines bingo and math to create a highly engaging and educational app. Kids can play at three levels of difficulty and work with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and even mixed operations.

10-12 years

As kids hit the tween years, they want to gain a bit of independence. Parents should start giving kids the chance to set some of their own limits, but still keep strict guidelines in place for what they’re allowed to watch. Tweens may want to watch the shows their friends are watching or start to show an interest in content designed for teens and adults. Parents have the job of determining what of that content is suitable based on the child’s maturity level. They may also opt to view content with tweens so they can talk about what’s good or not so good about the content.

Some resources to check out for this age group include:

Television and Video

MythBusters answers some of life’s most-pressing questions through scientific experiments. However, these aren’t experiments for kids to try at home. They’re often large-scale productions that involve dangerous stunts.

Horrible Histories makes history interesting by pulling out some of the goriest, craziest, and most entertaining moments from the past. Parents may want to preview episodes to make sure the events they cover are appropriate for kids and teens.

The Brain Scoop features discussions on interesting topics, such as how bird vomit helps us understand history. Tweens and teens can learn a lot about science and history through episodes of this YouTube series.

React gets reactions from kids, teens, and adults on a variety of topics – some controversial, some nostalgic. The channel helps introduce tweens to different viewpoints, gives them something to laugh about, and spurs them to think about their own thoughts on different issues.

SoulPancake is best-known for its Kid President videos, but it also features other series, such as Brick X Brick, which features cool videos about building with LEGOs, and How to find HAPPINESS, a series of videos designed to help people be happier.

GeekGurl Diaries is a series of YouTube videos designed to get girls interested in STEM. It features different tech tutorials, interviews with women in tech, and Hour of Code activities.

Apps

Box Island teaches kids about coding by having them use the principles of coding to solve a series of challenges and make their way through the app.

DIY App offers a creative community where kids can learn how to do virtually anything (that’s kid appropriate). Through tutorials, kids can learn to put on makeup, create an app, knit a sweater, or even cook a gourmet meal.

Questimate encourages kids to be curious by giving them the opportunity to create their own questions and estimate the answer. For example, how many jelly beans would be as long as a skateboard?

Monster Physics features a series of challenges that kids must solve. This game, which is also entertaining for adults, helps kids learn about the basics of physics.

Geography Drive USA helps kids and tweens learn all about US Geography through a series of trivia challenges.

Angry Birds is an app that is both fun and educational. Tweens can download different versions of the game, such as Angry Birds Star Wars and Angry Birds Epic. Whichever version they play, they’ll build logical thinking skills and learn a bit about physics as they use the birds to try and take out the pigs. Parents should note that Angry Birds does allow social media access and have in-app purchases, so they should be sure to set up devices to prevent access to these areas.

13-18 years

Teens should be allowed some independence to explore media on their own and determine what amount of media use is okay for them. However, parents should still set some guidelines, such as making the dinner table a media free zone or not allowing teens to have their devices in their bedrooms at night. Parents should also regularly talk to teens about their media use, monitor the content they have on their devices, and step in when they think teens are misusing their devices or spending too much time engaging in media.

Some resources to check out for this age group include:

Television and Video

Good Eats helps viewers learn the science behind the foods that they’re making. Hosted by Alton Brown, the show combines humor with facts to make for a truly engaging program.

Brain Games gives viewers a chance to exercise their brains through a series of mind-stretching games and puzzles.

Drive Thru History takes viewers through history to help them learn more about events that shaped the world. The show has a Christian focus, but offers a great overview of ancient civilization.

How It’s Made goes behind the scenes to show how different products are made. For example, have you ever wondered how they make a hockey puck or what the components of a high-voltage circuit breaker are?

Minute Physics is a YouTube series that uses basic stick figure drawings to explain physics in its short videos that cover topics such as “What is Gravity?” or “Is it Better to Run or Walk in the Rain?”

CrashCourse gives teens and adults a chance to quickly learn about a variety of topics related to physics, philosophy, government, economics, literature and more. The videos aren’t just educational either, they’re also a lot of fun to watch.

Apps

DuoLingo features bite-sized language learning exercises that help teens learn a new language or improve their language skills. Users can choose a range of practice opportunities, from 5-20 minutes a day.

DragonBox Algebra 12+ helps make math more interesting to teens by giving them a fun way to solve advanced algebra concepts.

Presidents vs. Aliens teaches teens all about presidents and history through a unique game that pits the presidents against evil aliens.

MindSnacks uses fun games and cute characters to help teens learn a new language.

What to Avoid

There’s a ton of content out there for kids. While much of it wouldn’t fit the AAP’s guidelines for quality programming, it’s not necessarily bad for kids. If you decide to let your child enjoy media solely for entertainment purposes, you still want to be careful to choose content that is safe and appropriate for your kids. When choosing media for kids, consider the following criteria:

• Is it safe?
  This question is especially important when it comes to apps, websites, and online videos. For apps, avoid content that allows unprotected social media access or gives kids the opportunity to interact with people they don’t know. Even if an app or website says other users are kids, there’s no guarantee.
• Is it age-appropriate?
  Some video sites and apps may seem age-appropriate, but quickly lead to less appropriate videos. For example, kids watching videos on YouTube unsupervised may inadvertently gain access to less appropriate content, even when using YouTube’s kids filters. Older kids and teens may want to watch popular television shows and movies (“because all my friends are watching it”), but not all of them contain content appropriate for kids. For example, a child in late elementary or early middle school may not be ready for The Walking Dead.
• Does it promote good habits?
  Pay attention to the behavior of the characters in the programming your child are engaged with. For example, some parents of preschoolers don’t let their children watch Caillou because they feel like he whines too much. If you want your young child to learn manners and respect, choose shows with characters who reflect that. If you don’t want your tween to date, don’t let him/her watch a show where the main characters focus on dating relationships.
• Are your kids able to interact with it in a healthy manner?
  At the end of the day, whatever content kids interact with, they need to learn how to engage with that content in a healthy manner. If you find it hard to pull your child away from a television show or app or if you find your child spending too much time fixated on a particular app or program, it may be time to take a break from that content and set some limits on future use.

Resources for the Whole Family

To help you manage your children’s screen time, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers a Family Media Plan creator and a Media Time Calculator. These resources are free and can be customized by age level to help you manage your children’s screen time effectively. For more educational media, check out our Ultimate Guide to Free Online Self-Learning for Kids and Top 100 Free Educational Sites.

Do you have tips to help parents manage their children’s screen time or quality programming recommendations? If so, share them in the comments.

Parent-teacher conferences can make parents, students, and even veteran teachers feel like they under the microscope and being scrutenized. As parents, we want our children to be successful and happy, and to give them the opportunities and resources to thrive. As a result, we love to hear about their accomplishments and it can be a hard pill to swallow when there’s feedback on areas that need improvement. Developing a strong partnership with your child’s teachers is critical to ensuring academic progress. At the same time, it’s important to strike the balance and not be a helicopter parent. Below, we offer you tips for entering your next parent-teacher conference prepared, with an open mind, and ready to collaborate so that you leave with a positive outcome. Let’s dive in!

What is a Parent-Teacher Conference?

If your little one is new to school, you’ll also be new to parent-teacher conferences. A parent-teacher conference is, as the name suggests, a meeting between parents and teachers related to a child’s education. They’re typically held twice a year and can be up to 30 minutes in length. Some schools, however, only hold parent-teacher conferences when there is a specific issue that needs to be discussed.

For a typical parent-teacher conference, the theme is all about learning. This can include the process of learning, any learning difficulties, or factors affecting learning such as social and behaviroral development.  

Ways you can prepare in advance include the “What”, “When”, and “Why”. Find out what the meeting is about (not all parent-teacher conferences are about being in trouble!), ensure there are no scheduling conflicts – this is especially important if you work fulltime, or are divorced, etc., and whether it’s a meeting to discuss your child’s overall performance or a particular issue is being discussed. Having these three things in the bag will help lower any anxieties through preparedness and help keep your child from picking on on your emotions. 

Preparation for a Parent-Teacher Conference

Arguably one of the most important things you can do to prepare for a parent-teacher conference is to involve your child. While the meeting is between adults, it’s important to include your child. This can be done by going over schoolwork with your child. You’ll be able to establish how they’re performing, whether they need help, or are excelling and perhaps need more challenging work to prevent boredom.

Talk with your child to learn how they feel about school. Asking questions about their friends, teachers (liked and disliked), subjects, and activities is a good start. Then, ask more reflective questions, like if there’s anything they would want to talk to their teacher about, does anyone at the school bully them or make them feel bad, and so on. Reassure your child if they show any feelings of apprehension about the meeting that you’re all working as a team for their success, and feed their curiosity by letting them know you’ll share what was discussed, and strategies for improvement.

You can then prepare a list of questions that you’d like to talk to the teacher about. You may feel that you’ll remember all the questions in your head, but it’s easy to forget something while in conversation.

What Kinds of Questions to Ask at a Parent-Teacher Conference

When you’ve chatted to your child an looked through their work, your list of questions can include things like this: 

• Is my child performing at grade level?
• Is my child making sufficient academic progress?
• Where does my child sit?
• How is my child’s individualized education plan (IEP) being followed?
• Do you have any concerns about my child’s social-emotional development?
• How much time should my child spend on homework?
• What can I do at home to better support my child’s learning?
• Does my child show strong interest in any topic or subject?
• Is there anything I should share with next year’s teacher?

Don’t forget to add things you’d like to share about your child with her teacher. This can include any family difficulties such as a death, sickness, or relationship struggles, or passions such as a particular sport, musical instrument, or genre/titles of books. These will help the teacher connect with the student. If you have information from the previous year’s teacher on strategies that helped your child succeed in class, those will also be useful to talk about.

Time Limits at Parent-Teacher Conferences

As mentioned earlier, parent-teacher conferences can range between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. In your preparation stage, you would have learned how long the meeting will be and what it is about. It’s really important to respect the time limits for both the teacher and for other parents. To do this, you can arrive early or on time, be mindful of time passing during your conversation, and end the meeting when the time is up. You can always schedule a follow-up meeting with the teacher if necessary.

When you arrive early for your meeting, you can use the extra minutes to go over your prepared questions. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s a good opportunity to identify the most important questions so you can get to those first without worrying about time running out. Chances are that the teacher will have an agenda and keep the conversation moving forward. They may even address the questions you have before you even need to ask them!

When you reach the end of your time, leave things on a positive note and exit the room. Doing so allows the teacher to make her own notes about the conference, prepare for the next meeting, and keeps things running on schedule.

Have a Conversation

First and foremost, a parent-teacher conference is a conversation not a confrontation. It’s important to be calm and to be yourself as you and the teacher have a common goal – your child’s progress and success. In this way, you can view the meeting as a collaborative session between teammates. Like any productive conversation, a good conference should involve both participants listening and speaking. The teacher will most likely lead the flow of the conversation. Listen actively to what the teacher says. Take notes that you can refer to later and record actions items that you need to follow through on after the conference ends. Ask questions and share information about your child where they naturally fit in the conversation. And if you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation. Towards the end of the conference, read through the notes you prepared ahead of time and bring up any items that were not mentioned. You can also chat about more ways you can help your child at home. And don’t forgot to discuss anything your child asked you to share with her teacher!

The Next Steps After a Meeting

The final couple minutes of the conference should be spent developing an action plan for how you and the teacher will best support your child going forward. This may include scheduling a follow-up meeting to further discuss anything that came up during the conference which couldn’t be fully covered in the allotted time. Review the things that you and the teacher will do to support your child as well as any expectations that need to be communicated with your child. Make sure you know the best method of contacting the teacher and determine a timeframe for when you will next check-in on your child’s progress.

Family engagement is vital to student success. Your parent-teacher conference attendance shows your child that you care about them and what goes on at school, as well as opens a dialog with the teacher. Share your tips on how to have a successful conference in the comments.

If you enjoyed this article, read 7 Tips for Learning with Kids. HelpTeaching.com also offers free, printable study skills worksheets to help promote effective learning strategies.

If you’re a parent, you know there are very few times you have your kids’ undivided attention. However, when you’re traveling, you have a captive audience. Whether you’re going by plane, train, or automobile, family travel offers an amazing opportunity to connect with your kids and engage them in educational activities. The next time you head off to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving or fly to Florida for vacation, put away the smartphones and tablets for a bit, and try out some of these educational travel activities with your kids.

Toddler – Preschool

“I Spy”
At this age, a key skill for toddlers and preschoolers is being able to take what they’re learning and connect it to the real world. While you travel, you can use the ever-changing landscape to help them make some of those connections. Play a simple game of “I Spy,” but don’t just look for colors. During the game, you can say “I spy…”

• a shape
• a number
• a letter
• a particular animal

Let your kids join in and pick things that they spy too. If they have trouble seeing out the window, then randomly place stickers around the car for them to spy as you drive. You can get reusable stickers if you’re worried about them sticking too much.

Find 100
Another type of seek-and-find game is “Find 100.” In this game, you challenge kids to find 100 of something during the trip. This helps reinforce counting skills. For kids who are just learning to count, you can keep a tally for them or adjust the number to 5, 10, or 20. You can also add in an additional challenge by seeing who can find that number of objects first. Things kids can look for include:

• animals
• shapes
• letters
• items of a certain color
• types of cars
• restaurants
• trees

You can extend the activity by having kids complete a 100 Chart, coloring in the numbers to find a mystery picture.

Virtual Hide and Seek
Toddlers and preschoolers love to play hide and seek, but the game is kind of hard to play in the car. You can, however, play a virtual game of hide and seek where they pretend to hide somewhere in another location and you try to guess where they are. For example, if they pretend to hide somewhere at home, you could say, “I’m looking in the bathtub. Is that where you’re hiding?” If guessing proves impossible, have them give you clues to figure it out.

Motion Games
Kids need to move around, but that’s pretty hard if they’re strapped into a car seat or stuck on an airplane. However, their arms and legs are usually free to wave and kick, so you can take some of their favorite movement songs and adapt them to fit in the car. Some songs that make great car motion games include:

• The Wheels on the Bus
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider
• If You’re Happy and You Know It (change “Stomp Your Feet” to something else)
• Alice the Camel

If you’re traveling for the holidays, you can also look for holiday-themed songs and finger plays that include motions. For example, Five Little Turkeys or Way Up High in the Apple Tree for Thanksgiving and Up on the Housetop or a modified We Wish You a Merry Christmas for Christmas.  When you stop for a rest stop, kids can stretch their bodies with a fun movement story.

You will find more road trip activities for preschoolers here.

Elementary

The Alphabet Game
There are many different versions of the alphabet game. To play you can start off with a phrase, such as:

• I’m going to the store and I need to buy…
• I’m going on a trip and I need to pack…
• I’m going on a trip and I will visit…
• I’m hungry and I’m going to eat…

Take turns adding to the list, letter by letter, repeating all the previous items as you go. At the end, see who can recite the entire list without making a mistake.

License Plate Meanings
License plates are often random combinations of letters and numbers. Pick a random license plate while driving and make up a meaning for the letters and words on the license plate. For example, JCAI26 could be “Just Cruisin’ Along Interstate 26”. You can make the descriptions completely random or try to base them off the type of car or people you see in the car. For more fun, make up a story about the people in the car. What are their names? Where are they going?

Math Quiz
Use the trip as an opportunity to brush up on basic math facts. For younger children, start by stringing addition problems. For example, “What’s 2+2? What’s 4+4? What’s 8+8?” For older children, call out basic multiplication or division problems. If you have multiple children in the car, pull out a stopwatch and see how many problems they can solve in a minute. Use our Worksheet Generator to print out some basic math worksheets before you go.

Twenty Questions
Twenty questions is one of those classic games that kids have been playing for ages. Simply think of a person, place, or thing. Then the other people in the car can ask up to 20 yes/no questions to figure out what it is. You may be surprised how easy it is to figure something out by asking simple questions.

Family Spelling Bee
Who is the best speller in the family? A family trip is the perfect opportunity to find out. Hold a family spelling bee, taking turns spelling words to see who can spell the most words correctly. You can use random words or pick words related to a particular holiday or location. For even more fun, bring along a dictionary and let your children randomly pick out words to see if they can stump you.

All Ages

Listen to a Story
A car or plane trip is a great time to enjoy a good book. If you’re riding in the car, download a novel that the whole family can enjoy and listen to it on your trip. If you can’t find a book to download, bring along a few books to read and take turns reading aloud to the rest of the family. Not only will you get to enjoy a good book, you’ll help your children learn the importance of reading. If you don’t want to read an entire novel, check out funny storytellers, such as Storynory and the Story Pirates podcast.

Tell a Story
Instead of listening to a book or story, you can always make up your own. You can start by making up your own version of a popular fairy tale or embellish a story from your childhood. To get your children involved, tell a story where every person tells one sentence of the story and the others add on to it. If you’re worried you won’t know what to tell a story about, take a look at our writing prompts for some inspiration. You can print out a few to take along on your trip.

Would You Rather?
Would you rather have leaves for hair or mushrooms growing out of your ears? These kinds of silly questions are great for kids of all ages. They teach kids to think creatively and learn how to back up their opinions. If you’re not sure you can come up with questions on the fly, let your kids do the work or just look up a few before you go. Sites with great Would You Rather questions for kids include: ConversationStarters and RRRather.

Listen to Educational Songs
Turn on some music the whole family can enjoy and learn from at the same time. If you have satellite radio, you can listen to a station like Kids Place Live which is full of fun indie music for kids and call-in radio shows for kids, much of which is educational. You can also purchase fun kids’ CDs or download albums full of educational songs. Some good ones that parents will enjoy too include:

• Snacktime! by Barenaked Ladies
• Here Come the ABCs and Here Comes Science by They Might Giants
• A Family Album by The Verve Pipe
• The Best of Schoolhouse Rock or Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks

Road Trip Bingo
Print out or create your own version of Road Trip Bingo to play. As you travel, kids can look for the items on their bingo boards and cross them off as they see them. The first one to get five in a row wins the game. To play the game multiple times, put the bingo boards in plastic sheet protectors and bring along dry erase markers for kids to use to mark each item off. Then you can wipe the board clean in between each game.

How Far Away Is it?
To help make the time go faster, have kids guess how far away different places, landmarks, or rest stops are. For example, if you see a tunnel in the distance say, “How far away is it?” Then watch the odometer to see whose guess was the closest. You can also give kids a map or let them look at the map on a smartphone or tablet to help them figure out exactly how far away a particular landmark is.

These are just a few ways to engage kids in learning activities as you travel during the holidays and year-round. Of course, you can also print out some of your favorite worksheets from Help Teaching and KidsKonnect  and put them in a binder for kids to work on during the drive.

Do you have educational activities you enjoy with your kids while traveling? If so, we’d love to hear them. Share them in the comments below.

Homeschooling your kids comes with a number of challenges to meet. You might worry about their social interaction, whether they’ll get to have prom like their public school-going peers, or even whether they want to participate in programs offered by a public school like band practice, cheerleading, choir, math groups, and others. 

Public schools offer some popular and interesting events that may intrigue homeschoolers.  Many teens will want to go to dances, learn how to drive, play on a team, or explore music. So, what are the answers to those challenging questions? There are several options:

Work Through the School District

Contact the local school district and see what its policy is on permitting homeschoolers to join the school’s events, teams, or groups. Be specific in what you are asking when you call. Schools might allow a teen to attend driver’s education classes, for example, but not permit attending the prom—or vice versa. Some schools are happy to accommodate homeschooling families with access to all activities, while others choose to completely restrict it.  In addition to contacting the local public school, consider reaching out to area private and charter schools to see what their policies are on incorporating homeschoolers.

Look at Community Programs

While schools do offer some great activities, they are rarely the ONLY place to offer them. Look around to see what other choices you might have.

• If your teen wants to join a local sports team, check out the local YMCA to see what sports it has to offer. You can also see if there are any local leagues sponsored by businesses or community groups.  Be sure to contact community centers, as they frequently offer a chance to play a variety of sports. Look at resources online such as Craigslist or Meetup.com to find clubs, teams, and other activities.
• Students who play instruments or sing can look into private lessons, as well as explore city orchestras  and local music groups. Choirs are available through churches and other independent groups. Community theatres offer a chance to explore drama.
• Driver’s education courses are offered by many groups, including police organizations and independent companies. School enrollment is not necessary to participate in most of these courses. Parents can also purchase packaged driver’s education programs online and teach the subject themselves.  National Driver Training Institute offers homeschooling programs. Just make sure you’re aware of the driver education laws in your state.
• Homeschoolers can typically attend prom if their partners are enrolled in the school. Perhaps your son or daughter’s main goal is just to dress up and go to a dance, rather than specifically the prom. If so, community dances are available in many cities.

Start Your Own

One trait homeschoolers tend to be known for is creating their own activities when they can’t find what they need within their communities. Support groups often have enough members that they are able to start a small sports team, a choir, a band, or an acting troupe. It takes time, effort, and dedication, of course, but many parents are willing to do it to help their children.

Homeschool proms are becoming more and more popular across the country. A 2 Z Home’s Cool  lists a growing number of states that host these dances annually,  including:

• Alabama
• California
• Indiana
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Texas
• Tennessee
• Virginia

(For parents who are starting from scratch to organize a prom in their area, there is a helpful site with many resources on it at http://home-school.lovetoknow.com/Homeschool_Prom. It offers information on how to find the best location for the prom, how to budget the money, where to find flowers, food, and beverages and more.)

Homeschooling teens—and just parenting them—can be a complex combination of challenging and delightful. Having the answers to the most common questions that can arise is one way to make the trip a little easier—for everyone involved. To learn more about homeschooling, check out Homeschooling 101: An Introduction to the Laws and Legalities of Homeschooling and The Most Important Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Homeschool.

Tamra Orr is the author of six books on the topic of homeschooling, including Homeschooling FAQs: 101 Questions Every Parent Should Ask, The Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling, and After Homeschool: Fifteen Homeschoolers Out in the Real World. In addition, she homeschooled her four children from Kindergarten through high school graduation.

The American flag has survived battles, inspired songs and reflected the growth of the country it represents. When introducing facts about Flag Day this year, why not take some time to celebrate with your students what is arguably the best-known flag in all the world.

Flag Day is June 14

History of the American Flag

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia established an official flag for the new United States of America: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”  In 1949, President Harry S. Truman officially declared June 14 as Flag Day.  The story of this American institution is as exciting as the history of the nation itself.

Did Betsy Ross really sew the first American flag?

The story goes something like this… in May of 1776, a mysterious trio of visitors entered the home of a Philadelphia upholsterer by the name of Betsy Ross.  The most famous of the three was none other than George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army.  Ross knew Washington because their pews at Philadelphia’s Christ Church were next to each other.  In fact, Ross had embroidered ruffles for Washington’s shirts.

The men presented Ross with the plan for a new flag which included six-pointed stars, one for each of the colonies.  The seamstress showed them it was easier to cut out five-pointed stars and convinced them to make the change.  They appointed her to sew the first flag representing what would, in just weeks, become a new country.

As I said up front, that’s the story.  The Washington Post, however, debunked that tale in a 2011 opinion piece.

What’s in a name?

Formally, the flag is called “the flag of the United States of America”, but over the years, the American flag has been given many nicknames.

Sometime in the 1820s, a Massachusetts sea captain by the name of William Driver gave the moniker “Old Glory” to a large, 10-by-17-foot American flag flown on his ship.  The flag had been sewn by his mother.

The distinctive design of the flag made it unique, hence the nicknames “the Stars and Stripes” dating back to at least 1809 and “the Star-spangled Banner” dating from the War of 1812 (see more about this below).

There are many nations whose flags feature the colors red, white, and blue (e.g. France, the United Kingdom, North Korea), but there’s only one flag that goes by “the red, white, and blue”—the American flag.  Some think this nickname may have its origins in a line from George M. Cohan’s 1906 song You’re a Grand Old Flag: “ev’ry heart beats true, ‘neath the Red, White, and Blue.”  However, the American flag is lauded in Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean written in 1843: “Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!”

Design of the American Flag

The so-called Grand Union Flag was the model for the original design of the American flag.  Also known as the Continental Colors Flag, the Grand Union had 13 alternating red and white stripes, with the Union Jack (the flag of Great Britain) in the corner where the stars are placed today.  In 1777, Congress decreed the Union Jack be replaced with 13 white stars on a blue field, one for each state (13 at the time).

Colors

Over the years, Congressional acts changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed stars to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.  Today the flag consists of seven red stripes alternating with six white.  The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union.  Officially, the red used on the flag is known as “old glory red”, and the blue field of stars is “old glory blue”.  The stars are white, not gold or yellow.

Dimensions

The shape of the flag is also specified by Congress.  The ratio of width to length must always be 1:1.9.  The width of each stripe must be exactly 1/13 of the flag width.  The dimensions of the field of stars (known as “the Union”) are also specific.  Likewise, each star is 4/5 the width of a stripe.

Size

One aspect of the flag that is not dictated by law is its size.  The largest flying American flag can be found in Gastonia, North Carolina. The flag is 114 feet by 65 feet (7,410 square feet), and each stripe is five feet tall.  It’s attached to a massive pole that is over 225 feet tall and has a diameter of five feet.  On a clear day the flag can be seen from over 30 miles away.

The granddaddy of the grand old flag

The largest American Flag ever created, but, due to its size, was never flown, is a flag once owned by Thomas Demski, a former mayor of Long Beach, California.  This “superflag” is 505 feet by 225 feet and weighs 3,000 pounds.  Demski’s flag is about one-and-a-half football fields long.  Each star is a massive 17 feet high, and it takes 500 people to stretch out and hold the flag.

Flying the American Flag

The flag has flown over many places in the United States, its possessions, and its military and civilian facilities around the world.  The aforementioned superflag has been unfurled at Superbowls, the Washington Monument, and the Hoover Dam. 

The first time the American flag was flown overseas was in 1805 when the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli in Libya.  The flag was placed at the North Pole in 1909 and on top of Mount Everest in 1963. (places the flag has flown)  The American flag has not been restrained by gravity, as Old Glory was first planted on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969.

Proper display of the flag

The American flag is usually displayed outdoors from sunrise until sunset.  The flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.  The flag should not be flown in inclement weather.  The flag should be flown daily, including all holidays, on or near all public institutions including polling places on election days and in front of schools when in session.  When displayed flat against a wall or a window, or in a vertical orientation, the field of stars should be at the top left of the observer.

The flag should be raised vigorously and lowered respectfully.  When the flag is raised or lowered as part of a ceremony, and as it passes by in parade or review, everyone, except those in uniform, should face the flag with the right hand over the heart.  The flag should never be dipped toward any person or object, nor should the flag ever touch the ground or anything beneath it.

The Pledge of Allegiance

The pledge has been an important part of civic life since 1923.  Countless school days have begun with this spoken anthem of loyalty to the flag and the nation.  According to the Flag Code, when the pledge is recited, it should be done “standing at attention facing the flag with one’s right hand over one’s heart.  When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”

The American Flag in custom and tradition

The flag plays a central role as a symbol of the nation.  It is used to inspire, comfort, and galvanize Americans for a cause.

Songs about Old Glory

Many songs have been written about the flag over the years.  Probably the most celebrated is The Star-spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key’s tribute to the flag.  After a British bombardment in Baltimore Harbor in 1814, Key was inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry.  The song officially became the national anthem in 1931.  The original flag is displayed today at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Other popular songs about the flag have been written over the years.  You’re a Grand Old Flag is a spirited patriotic song written by George M. Cohan in 1906 for his stage musical George Washington, Jr.  The Stars and Stripes Forever was written and composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896, and became the official march of the United States in 1987 by an act of the

U.S. Congress.  In his lyrics, Sousa’s praise for Old Glory is hyperbolic:

“Other nations may deem their flags the best

And cheer them with fervid elation

But the flag of the North and South and West

Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom’s nation.”

Songs about the flag reinforced Americans’ resilience following the terror attacks of September 11.  Charlie Daniels’ song This Ain’t No Rag, It’s a Flag and Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) reflected the feelings of millions of Americans.

Resources for Teaching about Flag Day

Help Teaching has created these educational resources on facts about flag day:

• Flag Day Math
• Flag Nickname Scramble
• Poem Analysis: The Flag Goes By
• American Symbols lesson and worksheet
• The National Anthem

KidsKonnect.com offers these resources:

• American Flag Facts & Worksheets
• Flag Day Facts & Worksheets
• Betsy Ross Facts & Worksheets
• The Pledge of Allegiance Facts & Worksheets
• American Patriotic Music Facts & Worksheets

BusyTeacher.org has these free resources:

• Flag Day Worksheet
• The Origins of Flag Day
• The United States Flag
• Wave High and Proud
• American Symbols 2: Stars And Stripes

Your students will enjoy these videos about Flag Day:

• PBS LearningMedia (1:29)
• National Constitution Center “The History of the U.S. Flag” (13:29)
• History of the U.S. Flag, in Paper (4:00)
• The Evolution Of US Flags (In 80 Seconds) (1:20)
• Proper Flag Etiquette (2:41)

These Free Flag Day resources are from the National Constitution Center:

• The History of Flag Day Lesson Plan
• From our Blog: How much do you know about the American flag?
• American Flag Pinwheels Craft Activity
• Patriotic Wreaths Craft Activity

Here are some delicious Easy Patriotic Cake Decorating Ideas from Chiff.com.

The United States Flag Code and other flag facts can be found at The American Legion’s website

So, “unfurl” these resources this Flag Day to help teach your students about the Grand Old Flag!

School is out. The weather is nice. And your kids are… bored out of their minds. While blog posts about letting kids experiencing boredom have gone viral, we know that sometimes they need a little help figuring out what to do. From activities designed to help kids learn and give back to their communities to those focused on making kids a little money and helping them have fun, we’ve gathered the ultimate list of over 100 summer activities for kids. Best of all, most of these activities can be done at home, so you don’t have to spend the summer running your kids from place to place.

Educational Activities

To help prevent kids from experiencing the summer slide, engage them in some educational activities. Last year we shared 15 summer learning activities for all ages. This year, we have a few suggestions to add to that list.

Reading/Writing

1. Create and distribute a family or community newsletter
2. Keep a summer journal
3. Write and direct a play or puppet show.
4. Write letters to family and friends
5. Join a summer reading program, such as one found at your local library or Barnes and Noble.
6. Challenge yourself to finish all of the books on a list, such as the American Library Association’s Summer Reading List.

Science

7. Spend rainy days looking at the resources found on the Help Teaching Ultimate Guide to Teaching Science.
8. Conduct a science experiment
9. Find out what plants are in your yard using a field guide or an app like Project Noah.

Use Help Teaching’s library of science worksheets to reinforce science concepts and introduce new ideas.

Math

10. Take a free summer math course, such as the Summer Math Challenge
11. Grab a measuring tape or ruler and start measuring random plants outside
12. Figure out the perimeter of the local pool
13. Count your steps as you walk and try to get in a certain number of steps each day

Use Help Teaching’s library of math worksheets to keep numbers fresh in your child’s mind.

Other Activities

14. Plan a trip by getting out a map and tracking where you want to go. You don’t have to go, just pretend
15. Go geocaching
16. Go letterboxing
17. Take a course or learn a new skill, using some of the resources in Help Teaching’s Ultimate Guide to Free Online Self-Learning for Kids
18. Visit a museum. Many museums offer free days throughout the summer. Bank of America customers and military families can also get free admission to museums during the summer

Socially Responsible Activities

Summer is also a great time to teach kids to give back to the community through volunteering, taking care of the environment, and other socially responsible activities. Try out a few of these suggestions this summer.

Volunteering

19. Read stories to or play games with residents of a local nursing home
20. Spend time visiting the animals at a local animal shelter
21. Serve a meal as a family at a local food bank
22. Use a service like VolunteerMatch.org to find organizations in your area that need volunteers.

Helping Others

23. Visit with elderly neighbors
24. Offer to do chores for neighbors free of charge
25. Raise money for a local charity
26. Hold a neighborhood food drive
27. Donate items to a thrift store or charity
28. Do random acts of kindness
29. Take snacks to the local police or fire station
30. Offer to watch a friend’s dog or cat while they go on vacation

Helping the Environment

31. Clean up trash in your neighborhood or at a local park
32. Start recycling cans and bottles at home and encourage neighbors to do the same
33. Plant a garden
34. Make bird feeders
35. Go the farmer’s market. Check out Local Harvest to find one near you
36. Pick your own fruits or vegetables. Find a farm using Pick Your Own
37. Practice conserving water by taking shorter showers and watering plants in the evening
38. Start a compost pile
39. Raise butterflies

Money-Making Activities

While most kids aren’t old enough to get an official summer job, they can use the summer to make some extra spending money. Encourage them to earn money to save up for a toy or other item they really want instead of just going out and buying it for them. Some suggestions for making money include:

40. Mow lawns
41. Sell lemonade
42. Make and sell crafts like bracelets
43. Ask parent or neighbors to do chores for pay
44. Bake and sell baked goods
45. Have a garage sale or toy swap
46. Walk dogs
47. Weed gardens and water plants
48. Play an instrument in a public place
49. Sell clothes and toys to a local consignment shop

Fun Activities

Of course, at the end of the day, summer is a chance for kids to have fun. There are lots of ways to have fun at home and in your local community.

Cooking and Food

50. Make a pitcher of sun tea
51. Make ice cream in a bag
52. Make sculptures using fruits and vegetables
53. Mix whipped cream and food coloring to make edible paint
54. Place different flavored fruit juices into paper cups, add a wooden stick, and freeze to make popsicles

Arts and Crafts

55. Paint or draw a picture.
56. Practice your photography skills by taking close-up photos of animals and plants
57. Host an art show featuring artwork created by kids
58. Make a picture or sculpture using items found in nature
59. Draw with sidewalk chalk
60. Create a sidewalk chalk mural
61. Paint on the house or sidewalk with water
62. Tie-dye a t-shirt
63. Put watered down paint into a squirt gun and spray it on paper outside
64. Collect and paint rocks
65. Gather leaves and create leaf rubbings
66. Dry out flowers by pressing them between two heavy books
67. Mix bubbles with food color to make popped bubble art
68. Paint your feet and walk on white paper outside

Choose from the many Help Teaching arts related and music related worksheets

Community Events

69. Listen to music. Many towns offer free outdoor musical performances during the summer
70. Go to a fair or festival. Fairs and Festivals highlights many of these events around the United States
71. Attend a baseball game. Many minor league games offer inexpensive tickets
72. Host a neighborhood carnival with simple games such as ring toss and bean bag toss
73. Go bowling. Kids Bowl Free partners with local bowling alleys to let kids bowl free all summer
74. Take a picnic to a local park
75. See a movie. Many movie theaters offer summer matinee discounts, such as Regal’s Summer Movie Express which screens kid movies for $1 on selected days during the summer. Cities and towns also often sponsor summer movies under the stars.

Rainy Day Activities

76. Play a board game, or — better yet — design a new one!
77. Make up a new card game
78. Make personalized word search puzzles with Help Teaching’s word search generator
79. Have a movie marathon
80. Visit a fun website, like those found on our Top Free 100 Education Sites
81. Jump in puddles
82. Make a rain gauge and measure how much rain you get
83. Redecorate your room
84. Set up a tent indoors and have an indoor camp out

Water Activities

85. Have a water balloon fight
86. Hold a wet sponge toss where you try to land wet sponges on a target on the ground
87. Run through the sprinkler
88. Buy a kiddie pool and soak your feet
89. Play “Does it sink or float?” in a kiddie pool
90. Fill a tub with water and use measuring cups and other water toys to play with it
91. Fill bottles with different amounts of water and blow across them to make music
92. Fill buckets, squirt guns, and other containers with water and have a water fight

Backyard Activities

93. Make a fort using cardboard boxes, sheets, or tree branches
94. Have a picnic in your backyard
95. Camp in your backyard
96. Make a mini-golf course using plastic tubs with holes cut in them
97. Lay on a blanket and watch the clouds
98. Blow bubbles using different items, such as slotted spoons and funnels as bubble wands
99. Grab glow sticks and play a game of glow tag in the dark
100. Make a stunt track for your toy cars in a pile of rocks or dirt

Fun with Friends

101. Have a neighborhood scavenger hunt and see who can find all the items first
102. Ride bikes around the neighborhood
103. Have a dance party
104. Challenge friends to competitions, such as who can stand on one foot for the longest or who can jump the highest
105. Make up a special summer song or chant
106. Start a game of kickball or capture the flag

Whether it’s Make Something Monday, Wander Somewhere Wednesday, or Fabulous and Fun Friday, there’s plenty of fun to be had all summer long. What do you love to do with your kids in the summer? Share your ideas in the comments to help our list grow!

Every day, stories about bad guys fill the news, but it’s the stories of kindness that really stand out. Whether it’s a fast food employee helping a customer or a group of students checking on a Grandma in the Window, these stories show the importance of being kind. Unfortunately, especially when people are stressed or tensions are high, showing kindness isn’t the norm. Harvard’s Making Caring Common project found that 80 percent of middle and high school students thought achievement and happiness were more important than caring for others. Teachers and parents can help turn those numbers around by teaching kids to be kind. Kindness might not solve all of the world’s problems, but it’s a good place to start.

Modeling Kindness

The first step in teaching kids to be kind is to model kindness. That means it’s time to end the “Mommy Wars”, set aside the political differences, stop pointing out what everyone else is doing wrong, and start focusing on what they’re doing right. You can model kindness by:

• Saying please and thank you
• Regularly telling others what you appreciate about them
• Speaking to others in a pleasant tone, even if they upset you
• Treating others, including children, with respect
• Pitching in when you see a need (without complaining)
• Giving random compliments to others
• Keeping your negative thoughts to yourself
• Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you

Kids tend to model the behaviors of the adults around them. If they see you regularly being kind, they will begin to exhibit kindness in their own lives. Of course, no one’s perfect. There will be moments when you tell someone off, hurt someone’s feelings, or fail to help someone in need. Taking the time to apologize when you were less than kind can also help kids learn a lesson about the importance of kindness.

Offering Positive Praise

Just like adults, kids need validation. They want to know that they’re appreciated and that they’re doing the right things. According to Greater Good in Action, kids actually have a propensity towards being kind. Parents and teachers can encourage kids to act on that propensity. Instead of focusing on what kids are always doing wrong, take some time to focus on what they’re doing right, particularly when it comes to kindness. Say things like:

• “You are a very helpful person.”
• “I appreciated it when you said ‘Please’ before you asked me for…”
• “It was a great idea to…”
• “Thanks. That was very kind of you.”
• “I like the way that you thought about others.”

Don’t praise kids every time they act kindly, otherwise they are likely to act a certain way just to receive the praise. Instead, try to point out a few positive moments every week to let kids know you appreciate how kind and helpful they are.

When kids decide not to act kindly, focus more on how it made the other person feel rather than criticizing or punishing the kids. For example, “Did you notice that James looked sad when you called him a name?” or “When you ask me for something without saying please, it makes me feel unimportant.”

Thinking about Kindness

While many kids are born with an innate desire to be kind, parents and teachers still need to plant seeds of kindness in their minds. Talk to kids about what they think it means to be kind. Ask them to share memories of acts of kindness. You can open the conversation with these writing prompts, which also make great discussion questions.

• What is Kindness?
• Being Kind to Someone I Don’t Like
• It is Better to Give than to Receive
• The Ripple Effect

Providing Opportunities to Be Kind

Of course the greatest way to teach kids to be kind is to give them plenty of opportunities to show kindness. These can be big acts of kindness, such as collecting money for charity or taking bags of food to a food pantry, or smaller acts of kindness, such as picking up trash on the playground or giving a friend a hug when they are sad.

Some ways kids can show kindness every day include:

• Holding the door open for others
• Smiling at people who make eye contact with them
• Keeping a gratitude journal and regularly writing what they are thankful for
• Writing thank you notes to others
• Complimenting others
• Waving hello when they see someone they know
• Calling family members they do not see often
• Writing notes or drawing pictures for family and friends
• Asking if they can help when they see someone tackling a big job
• Offering to let a classmate go first
• Saying please and thank you
• Doing their chores without being asked
• Doing things they see that need done without being asked
• Throwing away trash they find on the ground
• Saying “I love you”
• Taking some time to pet and talk to their pets
• Check on elderly neighbors

Some big ways to encourage kids to be kind include:

• Donating some of their clothes or toys to charity
• Serving a meal at a homeless shelter
• Visiting a nursing home or sending cards and flowers to the residents
• Using allowance money to buy something for someone in need
• Paying for someone’s meal at a restaurant (with allowance money or your help)
• Offering to do chores or yard work for an elderly or disabled neighbor
• Donating books to a preschool or library
• Cleaning up litter in the park or around the school
• Sending cards and care packages to deployed servicemen and women
• Collecting money for a favorite charity
• Donating food or toys to a local animal shelter
• Participating in a 5K run or walk for charity
• Speaking out against bullying as part of an anti-bullying campaign
• Volunteering to tutor another student
• Making your neighbors gifts for the holidays or on their birthdays

If you encourage kids to show kindness when they are young, they are more likely to grow up to be kind adults. If you want to take the conversation on kindness a step further, check out Edutopia’s Eight Steps Toward a Kinder World. Remember, kindness matters.

Each year, we share blog posts on a range of topics related to education. With the school year drawing to a close, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the posts HelpTeaching users found the most useful this year. You might just discover a few you missed or even a few you want to share with friends.

#1 Top 100 Free Education Sites

We scoured the web and discovered our picks for the top sites for math, science, social studies, reading, writing, and more. Our list even included the top sites for early education, educating yourself, and education news. Be on the lookout for our 2016 update to the annual list which will include the top sites for computer science education.

#2 30 Things I Wish I Learned in High School

Many students are set to graduate high school this year and head out into the world. Some will do this with teen bravado and think they know it all, while others are anxious about what the future holds. This article highlights some wisdom about basic skills that aren’t necessarily taught in high school but are invaluable in the wider world. These include time management, self-care, how to study, preparing healthy meals, and many more gems.

#3 Top Strategies for Teaching Anatomy and Physiology

Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Weird But True, and other enterprises like them have made an entire business of highlighting the odd, wacky, and incredible things the human body can do. Yet, engaging high school students in a topic that they may feel they already know enough about (after all, don’t we walk around in these bodies every day?!) can be a challenge. Bring anatomy and physiology alive in the classroom setting with these strategies and resources that will draw students in, hold their interest, and maximize their learning.

#4 The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Science

Teachers looking to spice up their science instruction should check out our Ultimate Guide to Teaching Science. It includes resources to help teach the Next Generation Science Standards, access to breaking science news, and fun activities for students.

#5 How to Engage Young Learners (Toddlers & Preschool)

What can feel like herding cats at times, engaging young learners is critically important to their development. So how do you engage little ones who have tons of energy, strong opinions, and whose question is “why?” The key is to use their energy and opinionated nature to your advantage. Whether you’re working with one child or a group of children, we’ve discovered some ways to help harness the energy of young learners and maximize their ability to learn.

#6 Brain Breaks: Helping Students Reset, Refresh, and Get Moving

Let’s face it, learning can be overwhelming. With so much information coming in at once, sometimes students just need a break. That’s where brain breaks come in. Brain breaks are short, focused activities designed to help students recharge and refocus. Although typically used with preschool and elementary grades, brain breaks can be used with students of all ages.

#7 Ultimate Guide to Free Online Self-Learning for Kids

There’s no denying it, 2020 and 2021 have been crazy years. Fortunately, the Internet has come to the rescue on the teaching front and transformed traditional education in ways we hadn’t imagined. We have gathered links to help kids in grades pre-K through sixth grade learn online. The 70+ resources are organized by type (videos, online courses, reference materials, and more).

#8 100 Fitness Activities for Families

Fitness is really important for physical and mental health. And with lots of confinement in 2020 and 2021, it’s been more important than ever to get creative when it comes to fitness and finding things to do together. To help get you started, we’ve gathered a list of 100 activities to do with your family. Whether you have toddlers, tweens, or teens, taking time to improve your health and promote quality family time is worth every second!

#9 The Importance of Self-directed Learning

As adults, we know that self-directed learning a critical skill to have. This is why it’s important to teach children when they’re young how to learn independently. Given the right tools, guidance, and motivation, the potential for student success is limitless. So we’ve rounded up ways to help you impart this skill to your kids. Keep reading to learn more.

#10 A to Z: The Best Books for Teens

With lots of time at home, parents have been looking for ways to limit screen time for their kids, especially teens. To help invite them into the wonderful world of reading, we’ve rounded up some of our top picks.

We hope we were able to provide our users with helpful resources this year and look forward to continuing to publish topics that will help you be the best teacher you can be. What are some topics you’d like to see us tackle? Why not get in contact and share your ideas with us!

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Joe Pizzuto-Pomaco is an educator, writer, and editor who has taught in public and private schools 15 years.